A foldable child booster seat

ABSTRACT

A foldable child booster seat based on the origami and popup technique. The booster seat is light and easy to be folded flat into a compact form for storage and transport. The foldable booster seat, comprising: a plurality of rigid substrates, each rigid substrate is interconnected to another by one or more integrated hinges or flexible parts allowing the rigid substrate to fold either inward or outward when folding up; wherein when the foldable booster seat is folded flat, the rigid substrates are stacked together; and wherein when the foldable booster seat is folded up, the rigid substrates are arranged to form the shape of a chair or stool.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a national phase application of PCT/CN2016/086206 filed on 17Jun. 2016 which claims priority to the U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/180,618 filed on 17 Jun. 2015; the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to furniture and the manufacturethereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to portablechild booster seats.

BACKGROUND

Child booster seats are often used in flights, vehicles, homes, andrestaurants to alleviate the sitting height level of small children onregular seats and chairs. When attached to a regular chair or seat, achild booster seat allows a child to sit safely, comfortably, and at theapproximately same height level as a sitting adult. Child booster seatsare also necessary for safety reasons, particularly in flights andvehicles where seat belts are employed to ensure the proper fastenedconditions of the seat belts. Problem with existing booster seats isthat they are heavy (each typically weighing 2 kg and up), bulky, noteasily portable, and occupy considerable storage space when not in-use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a collapsible child booster seat thataddresses the problems of poor portability and stow-ability oftraditional child booster seats. The booster seat in accordance tovarious embodiments of the present invention is based on the origami andpopup technique, which is an art form of paper folding. The booster seatis light and easy to be folded flat into a compact form for storage andtransport.

When laid open (before assembly), the booster seat can be viewed as oneor more flat sheet materials shaped by cutout pattern(s) comprising aplurality of rigid substrates of specific shapes having flat surfacesconnected by a network of integrated hinges. The shape of each of therigid substrates and the placements of the hinges around the edges ofeach of the rigid substrates are designed for enabling the foldup andfold-flat actions of the assembled booster seat, and also according tothe statics mechanics of the assembled booster seat.

In accordance to one embodiment, when folded flat (collapsed), thebooster seat has a dimension of approximately 280 mm by 300 mm by 15 mm.Other dimensions are also possible in other embodiments. When folded up,the booster seat takes the shape of a small chair having a sittingsurface and a backrest, or of a small chair having a sitting surfacewithout any backrest or a stool.

Due to its internal double triangular structure, the weight of theoccupant is transferred down to the base from both sides of the foldedup booster seat and from the longitude axis of the booster seat. In analternative embodiment, the weight is absorbed and transferred by thewhole internal double triangular structure itself down to the supportsurface. The thicknesses, flexural, tensile, and compressive strength,and/or materials use of each individual rigid substrate can varydepending on the desired overall style, shape, and size of the folded upbooster seat and for better sitting comfort, stability, sturdiness, andweight distribution.

When folded up, the chair-shape of the booster seat is upheld andsecured using one or more locking means including, but not limited to,magnets or fast-release mechanical connectors.

In one embodiment, the booster seat comprises one or more built-insafety belt for securing the occupant to the booster seat. In anotherembodiment, the booster seat comprises one or more built-in straps forsecuring the booster seat to the chair or seat, or the support surfacewhere it is placed upon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION ON THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are described in more detail hereinafterwith reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts the sheet material cutout patterns of the child boosterseat in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts the sheet material cutout patterns of the child boosterseat with references to the binding areas;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an assembled and folded up childbooster seat in accordance to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the assembled and folded up child booster;

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the assembled and folded up child boosterseat;

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the assembled and folded up child boosterseat;

FIG. 7 shows a front view of the assembled and folded up child boosterseat;

FIG. 8 shows a back view of the assembled and folded up child boosterseat;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the assembled and folded flat childbooster seat;

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of an assembled and folded up childbooster seat made of heat-pressed fiberglass in between two fabrics of afirst type in accordance to one embodiment of the present invention,wherein the one fabric that is externally facing is padded;

FIG. 11 shows a top view of the assembled and folded up child boosterseat made of heat-pressed fiberglass in between two fabrics of the firsttype;

FIG. 12 shows a front view of an assembled and folded up child boosterseat made of heat-pressed fiberglass in between two fabrics of a secondtype in accordance to another embodiment of the present invention,wherein the one fabric that is externally facing is padded;

FIG. 13 shows a front view of the assembled and folded up child boosterseat made of heat-pressed fiberglass in between two fabrics of thesecond type;

FIG. 14 shows a first perspective view of the assembled and folded upchild booster seat made of heat-pressed fiberglass in between twofabrics of the second type installed with optional safety belt;

FIG. 15 shows a front view of the assembled and folded up child boosterseat made of heat-pressed fiberglass in between two fabrics of thesecond type installed with optional safety belt;

FIG. 16 shows a side view of the assembled and folded up child boosterseat made of heat-pressed fiberglass in between two fabrics of thesecond type installed with optional safety belt;

FIG. 17 shows a second perspective view of the assembled and folded upchild booster seat made of heat-pressed fiberglass in between twofabrics of the second type installed with optional safety belt;

FIG. 18 shows a perspective view of the assembled and folded up childbooster seat made of heat-pressed fiberglass in between two fabrics ofthe second type installed with optional safety belt and security strapsin accordance to one embodiment of the present invention, wherein thechild booster seat is secured to a chair by the security straps;

FIG. 19 shows a front view of the assembled and folded up child boosterseat made of heat-pressed fiberglass in between two fabrics of thesecond type installed with optional safety belt and security straps,wherein the child booster seat is secured to a chair by the securitystraps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, product models and methods of manufactureof child booster seat are set forth as preferred examples. It will beapparent to those skilled in the art that modifications, includingadditions and/or substitutions may be made without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention. Specific details may be omitted so asnot to obscure the invention; however, the disclosure is written toenable one skilled in the art to practice the teachings herein withoutundue experimentation.

The booster seat in accordance to various embodiments of the presentinvention is based on the origami and popup technique, which is an artform of paper folding. The booster seat is light and easy to be foldedinto a compact form for storage and transport.

When laid open (before assembly), the booster seat can be viewed as oneor more flat sheet materials shaped by cutout pattern(s) comprising aplurality of rigid substrates of specific shapes having flat surfacesconnected by a network of integrated hinges. The shape of each of therigid substrates and the placements of the hinges around the edges ofeach of the rigid substrates are designed specifically for enabling thefoldup and fold-flat actions of the assembled booster seat, and alsoaccording to the statics mechanics of the assembled booster seat. Themanufacture of the booster seat can be achieved through many differentways including, but not limited to:

-   -   1. Using plastic (e.g. polypropylene) molding or injection        techniques in making a single variable composite material board        with defined thicker areas for the rigid substrates and defined        thinner areas for the hinges;    -   2. Permanently binding (e.g. by heat-pressing or ultrasound        welding) soft plastic and/or rubber strips (for the hinges) to        hard plastic or fiberglass panels (for the rigid substrates);    -   3. Attaching (e.g. by glue or overmolding) the rigid substrates        made of (e.g. hard plastic or fiberglass) onto a layer of        fabric;    -   4. Sealing and sandwiching (e.g. by heat-pressing) rigid        substrates made of (e.g. hard plastic, fiberglass, or other hard        composite material) in between two layers of fabric, and        removing the inserts in defined areas for the hinges;    -   5. Using a single piece of carbon fiber and applying resin onto        the carbon fabric areas needed to be polymerized for the rigid        substrates;    -   6. Applying hardening treatment (e.g. thermal treatment) onto        defined areas of a single piece of synthetic fabric to create        the rigid substrates; or    -   7. Using any other technique that combines hard panels with flat        surfaces (for the rigid substrates) with mechanical hinges or        soft material members (for the hinges).

Referring to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 depicts the sheet material cutout patternsof a child booster seat in accordance to an embodiment of the presentinvention. Sub-pattern 101 is the sheet material cutout pattern of themain body of the child booster seat. Sub-pattern 103 is the sheetmaterial cutout pattern of the backrest of the child booster seat to beattached to the main body of the child booster once assembled. Theintegrated hinges are located on edges 103 and 104 in between the rigidsubstrates. Each of the hinges on edges 103 allows the two rigidsubstrates connected by the hinge to fold inward during the foldupaction of the child booster seat. Each of the hinges on edges 104, onthe other hand, allows the two rigid substrates connected by the hingeto fold outward during the foldup action of the child booster seat.Magnets or other snap attachment means, such as straps, are fixed atcircles 105 for holding together the rigid substrates on which themagnets or other snap attachment means are fixed on. This functions as alocking mechanism to uphold the foldup condition of the child boosterseat. The shaded areas 106 are to bind to the surface areas of specificrigid substrates so to uphold the assembled child booster seat.

FIG. 2 shows more clearly the binding areas on the sheet material cutoutpatterns of the child booster seat. Binding area A′ is to bind withbinding area A, B′ to B, C′ to C, E′ to E, F′ to F, H′ to H, I′ to I, J′to J, K′ to K, L′ to L, m′ to m, and n′ to n.

In accordance to one embodiment, when folded flat (collapsed), thebooster seat has a dimension of approximately 280 mm by 300 mm by 15 mm.Other dimensions are also possible in other embodiments. When folded up,the booster seat takes the shape of a small chair having a sittingsurface and a backrest, or of a small chair having a sitting surfacewithout any backrest or a stool.

Due to its internal double triangular structure, the weight of theoccupant is transferred down to the base from both sides of the foldedup booster seat and from the longitude axis of the booster seat. In analternative embodiment, the weight is absorbed and transferred by thewhole internal double triangular structure itself down to the supportsurface. The thicknesses, flexural, tensile, and compressive strength,and/or materials use of each individual rigid substrate can varydepending on the desired overall style, shape, and size of the folded upbooster seat and for better sitting comfort, stability, sturdiness, andweight distribution.

When folded up, the chair-shape of the booster seat is upheld andsecured using one or more locking means including, but not limited to,magnets or fast-release mechanical connectors.

In one embodiment, the booster seat comprises one or more optionalbuilt-in safety belt for securing the occupant to the booster seat asshown in FIGS. 14-17. The booster seat may optionally comprises one ormore built-in straps for securing the booster seat to the chair or seat,or the support surface where it is placed upon as shown in FIGS. 18-19.

The main advantage of the present invention is that the combination ofstructural strength, lightweight, and its ability to be folded flat andthin allow the child booster seat to fit in almost any carrying bag,giving it great portability and making it an ideal space savingsolution. A test model made of 1.4 mm thick cardboard with adhesive tapecan withstand the weight of an average adult. Another test model made ofheat-pressed fiberglass in between two padded fabric as shown in FIGS.12-13 has a folded flat dimension of 280 mm by 300 mm by 18 mm andweight range of 600 g to 800 g.

A practitioner skilled in the art should appreciate that the style,shape, and size of a folded up child booster seat in accordance to thepresent invention are heavily influenced by the design of the sheetmaterial cutout pattern that dictate the number, sizes, and shapes ofthe rigid substrates and the placements of the integrated hinges aroundedges of the rigid substrates. As such, many different booster seatstyles, shapes, and sizes are realizable by different sheet materialcutout patterns. A practitioner skilled in the art should alsoappreciate that different designs of the sheet material cutout patterncan be used to assemble different types of furniture such as playfurniture, high chair, bed, stroller, and bouncer for toddlers andinfants.

The foregoing description of the present invention has been provided forthe purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed.Many modifications and variations will be apparent to the practitionerskilled in the art.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical application, therebyenabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments and with various modifications that are suited tothe particular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A foldable booster seat, comprising: a pluralityof rigid substrates, each rigid substrate is interconnected to anotherby one or more integrated hinges or flexible parts allowing the rigidsubstrate to fold either inward or outward when folding up; wherein whenthe foldable booster seat is folded flat, the rigid substrates arestacked together; and wherein when the foldable booster seat is foldedup, the rigid substrates are arranged to form the shape of a chair orstool.
 2. The foldable booster seat of claim 1, wherein shapes and sizesof the rigid substrates and placements of the hinges or flexible partsare dictated by one or more sheet material cutout patterns.
 3. Thefoldable booster seat of claim 1, wherein each of the rigid substratescomprises two layers of fabric and a hard plastic member inserted inbetween the two layers of fabric.
 4. The foldable booster seat of claim1, wherein each of the rigid substrates comprises two layers of fabricand a fiberglass member inserted in between the two layers of fabric. 5.The foldable booster seat of claim 1, wherein each of the rigidsubstrates comprises two layers of fabric and a hard material memberinserted in between the two layers of fabric.
 6. The foldable boosterseat of claim 1, wherein each of the rigid substrates comprises a carbonfiber member.
 7. A foldable furniture, comprising: a plurality of rigidsubstrates, each rigid substrate is interconnected to another by one ormore integrated hinges or flexible parts allowing the rigid substrate tofold either inward or outward when folding up; wherein when the foldablebooster seat is folded flat, the rigid substrates are stacked together;and wherein when the foldable booster seat is folded up, the rigidsubstrates are arranged to form the shape of a chair or stool.
 8. Thefoldable furniture of claim 7, wherein shapes and sizes of the rigidsubstrates and placements of the hinges or flexible parts are dictatedby one or more sheet material cutout patterns.
 9. The foldable furnitureof claim 7, wherein each of the rigid substrates comprises two layers offabric and a hard plastic member inserted in between the two layers offabric.
 10. The foldable furniture of claim 7, wherein each of the rigidsubstrates comprises two layers of fabric and a fiberglass memberinserted in between the two layers of fabric.
 11. The foldable furnitureof claim 7, wherein each of the rigid substrates comprises two layers offabric and a hard material member inserted in between the two layers offabric.
 12. The foldable furniture of claim 7, wherein each of the rigidsubstrates comprises a carbon fiber member.